April 4, 2014

What I’m Drinking: Donini Wines

We (wife Nat and I) recently got back from another trip to Italy. Sadly it was two weeks in Italy, and not seven months in Italy, but it was still darn fun. And while there, we stopped to see our pal Diego, the amazing and friendly third-generation vintner at Donini Wines, who I’ve talked about more in-depth like on the Italy blog. Every time we stop by, it’s exactly like visiting a friend combined with what I think every wine tasting should be like. We sit down, he starts opening wine:

donini-1

even some unlabeled new bubbly that is fantastic, crisp, clear, and lovely:

donini-2

Then he brings out cheese and crackers and more wine:

donini-3

Then opens another bottle of wine:

donini-4

The whole time we’re catching up, talking about wine and the seasons and Italy and America and our families and this and that, and Diego is charming and always opening and pouring more wine for us to try:

donini-5

And then the table looks like this (with new reds and whites alongside old friends, all in Umbrian style and all great):

donini-6

If you’re ever in Italy, especially southern Tuscany or northern Umbria, you should be sure and stop by and see him and Donini Wines, too. Sadly, they’re only imported into the US in Montana and few other select states so far. But you needed a trip to Italy, right? Oh, one thing – you’ll probably need to take some home. So leave room in your suitcase. I always do.

Rathbun on Film